JP3726583B2 - Printing apparatus and printing system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a printing system including a printer及 beauty FAX, relates to an improvement in preventing unauthorized use of the images, especially printed.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, with the development of network technology, it has become possible for each user to make a print request from a remote location and print it on a shared printer. Here, the user can execute printing via wireless communication by outputting a printing instruction from an information terminal connected to the PHS or the like.
[0003]
Such a network will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the outline of a conventional image processing system. As shown in FIG. 7, the conventional image processing system mainly includes a printer 1 as an image processing device, a gateway device 2, a wireless terminal 3, and a wireless communication base station 4. The printer 1, the gateway, and the like. The apparatus 2 is connected to each other via a network 5, and the gateway apparatus 2 and the radio communication base station 4 are connected to each other via a telephone line such as a public telephone network (PSTN) or ISDN. Originally, the entire configuration is such that more computers and other devices are connected to the network 5, but the illustration is omitted here for explanation.
[0004]
Hereinafter, each of these parts will be described in detail. The printer 1 is a printer shared via the network 5, and prints a designated document in response to a print request instruction received via the network 5. Specifically, the printer 1 receives an instruction of a document expressed in a page description language (PDL) such as PostScript (trademark) from the wireless terminal 3 via the gateway device 2, and processes the document to form an image. The formed image is printed.
[0005]
The gateway device 2 transmits a print request received via the telephone line to the printer 1 via the network 5. The gateway device 2 is, for example, a computer that is dial-up connected. The wireless terminal 3 is a portable computer connected to a wireless communication device such as PHS, and transmits a print request to the printer 1 by wireless communication. The wireless communication base station 4 transmits / receives information to / from the wireless terminal 3 and transmits / receives the transmitted / received information to / from the gateway device 2 via a telephone line.
[0006]
The user of the wireless terminal 3 outputs an instruction for requesting printing from the wireless terminal 3 to the printer 1. Then, the wireless communication base station 4 wirelessly receives the request instruction from the wireless terminal 3 and outputs it to the gateway device 2 via the telephone line. The gateway device 2 outputs the instruction to the printer 1 via the network 5, and the printer 1 receives the request instruction and performs printing.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described conventional image processing system, printing is performed immediately when the printer receives a print request instruction. For example, printed matter output at the request of a user at a remote location is printed by the user. Until it came to the printer, it remained in the printer tray, and there was a security problem that the printed material could be seen by others.
[0008]
Therefore, a technique is considered in which the printer does not output printed matter until a password is set and the password is input. In this case, however, the password must be input to the printer, and the operation is complicated. There was a problem that convenience was low.
[0009]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a printing apparatus capable of improving security with a simple operation.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention for solving the above-described problems of the conventional example includes, in a printing apparatus, a receiving unit that receives a print request together with data to be printed, and a printed matter related to the print request received by the receiving unit. detection means for detecting the position of the user should receive, based on the position of the user detected by the detection means, the user determines according to criteria predetermined whether being in the vicinity of the self, When it is determined that it is not in the vicinity, printing is suspended, and when it is determined that it is in the vicinity, a control unit that outputs an instruction to start printing, and the reception by the instruction to start printing by the control unit Printing means for starting printing of an image based on the data received by the means.
[0011]
In this way, printing is started based on the position of the user, so that printing is suspended when the user is not in the vicinity, and printing is started when the user approaches, so that others can see the printed matter. Security can be improved.
[0012]
Further, the control means calculates a relative distance between the user's position and the user's position , determines whether the calculated relative distance is within a preset range, and is determined not to be within the range. In this case, it is preferable to suspend printing and output an instruction to start printing when it is determined that the printing is within the range .
[0015]
Also, the control unit receives the data underlying the image as data to be the print, in the case of holding the print holds to form the images in advance on the basis of the data, the print means receives an instruction to start the printing, it is preferable to print an image that is the holding.
[0016]
In this way, printing can be executed immediately when the user approaches, and the user can quickly see the printed matter , thereby improving convenience.
[0018]
Furthermore, the present invention for solving the problems of the above conventional example is a printing system including an information terminal possessed by a user and a printing apparatus in the printing system, wherein the information terminal is a printing target. Means for transmitting a print request together with data to the printing apparatus via a communication line, the printing apparatus receiving a print request together with data to be printed from the information terminal, and the reception Detecting means for detecting the position of the information terminal that issued the request received by the means, and whether or not the information terminal that issued the request is in the vicinity based on a detection result of the detecting means. determined in accordance with criteria that are, and control means for outputting an instruction to start printing if pending printing when it is determined that no near, it is determined that are in the vicinity, the system The instruction to start printing by means is characterized by comprising: a printing unit configured to start printing images based on data received by the receiving means.
[0019]
In this way, by starting printing based on the position of the information terminal, printing is suspended when the information terminal is not in the vicinity of the user, and printing is started when the user who owns the information terminal approaches. If the user has an information terminal, security can be improved without any special operation.
[0020]
Here, it is preferable that the information terminal periodically reports its own position, and the printing apparatus detects the position of the information terminal based on notification from the information terminal.
Further, the information terminal further comprises means for transmitting an immediate printable attributes to the printing apparatus by the instruction, the printing equipment receives an immediate printable attribute from the information terminal immediately starts printing the image It is preferable to do.
[0021]
Moreover, it is preferable that the information terminal detects its current position by GPS.
[0024]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, an image processing system (specifically a printing system ) including an image processing apparatus (specifically a printing apparatus) according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a printer 10 and a gateway. The apparatus basically includes a device 2, a wireless terminal 30, and a wireless communication base station 4. Here, the printer 10 and the gateway device 2 are connected to each other via a network 5, and the gateway device 2 and the wireless communication base station 4 are connected to each other via a telephone line such as a public telephone line network or ISDN. ing.
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 10 includes a CPU 11, a ROM 12, a RAM 13, a hard disk 14, a network interface 15, and a printer engine 16, and each unit is connected to each other via a bus. As shown in FIG. 1, the wireless terminal 30 basically includes a CPU 31, a ROM 32, a RAM 33, a hard disk 34, a PHS unit 35, and a GPS 36, and the respective units are connected to each other by a bus. Originally, the network 5 has more computers and peripheral devices connected thereto, and various telephone devices are connected to the telephone line in the overall configuration. It is shown.
[0026]
Hereinafter, although each part is demonstrated concretely, since the gateway apparatus 2 and the radio | wireless communication base station 4 are the same as that of the conventional one shown in FIG. 7, description is abbreviate | omitted. The CPU 11 of the printer 10 controls each unit according to a processing program stored in the ROM 12 or the hard disk 14. The operation of the CPU 11 will be described later. The ROM 12 stores a program processed by the CPU 11. The RAM 13 holds the input print request as a print queue. The RAM 13 operates as a work memory of the CPU 11 and holds an image drawn based on PDL or the like that is the basis of the image. Further, the RAM 13 also operates as a buffer memory that temporarily stores information exchanged via the network interface 15. The hard disk 14 stores various parameters including the latitude, longitude, and altitude of the installation location of the printer 10 in addition to the program processed by the CPU 11. The network interface 15 exchanges information with other devices via the network 5. The printer engine 16 performs printing on a sheet based on an instruction from the CPU 11.
[0027]
The CPU 31 of the wireless terminal 30 performs processing according to a processing program stored in the ROM 32 or the hard disk 34. The CPU 31 transmits a print request to the printer 10 together with data to be printed. Further, the CPU 31 detects its own position by the GPS 36 and transmits it to the printer 10 together with the reception ID as position information. Details of the operation of the CPU 31 will be described later. The ROM 32 stores a program processed by the CPU 31. The RAM 33 operates as a work memory for the CPU 31. The hard disk 34 stores programs processed by the CPU 31 and various parameters. The PHS unit 35 transmits and receives information to and from the wireless communication base station 4 based on instructions from the CPU 31. The PHS unit 35 moves between cells while performing handoff with a large number of radio communication base stations 4 in the same way as a general PHS. A case where communication is performed with the station 4 is illustrated. The GPS 36 outputs the current position as latitude, longitude, and altitude parameters based on signals from GPS satellites.
[0028]
Here, processing performed by the CPU 11 of the printer 10 will be described with reference to FIG. When the CPU 11 receives a print request via the network, the CPU 11 attaches a reception ID as a number for identifying each received print request, holds data to be printed as a print queue in the RAM 13, and passes the network via the network. Data indicating that the print request has been received and the reception ID are returned. Further, the CPU 11 receives the current position of the user together with the reception ID via the network, and stores it as position information in association with data to be printed.
[0029]
Further, the CPU 11 performs the process shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing processing of the CPU 11. The CPU 11 checks whether or not a request has been received via the network (S1). If there is a request (if Yes), the CPU 11 checks whether or not an immediate printing instruction is received together with the request (S2). If there is an immediate printing instruction in this process S2 (if Yes), the data to be printed according to the request is acquired, an image is formed in the RAM 13, and output to the printer engine 16 for printing. (S3) Returning to the processing S1, the processing is continued. On the other hand, if there is no immediate printing instruction in step S2, a reception ID is generated and the reception ID is transmitted to the request issuer (S4). Then, it waits for the location information of the issuer of the request (S5). When the location information is received together with the reception ID, it further acquires its own location from the hard disk 14 (S6), and the issuer of the request from the difference between these locations And the relative distance between the self and the self is calculated (S7). Then, it is checked whether or not the calculated distance is within a preset range (S8). If it is within the range (Yes), the process proceeds to step S3 to perform printing, and the process ends.
[0030]
If the calculated relative distance is not within the range (if No) in process S8, the data to be printed together with the reception ID is used as a print queue in association with the position information acquired in process S6 on the hard disk 14. Store (S9). In this process S9, if the data to be printed is data that is the basis of an image such as PDL, an image is preferably formed in advance based on this data and stored as a print queue. . In this way, printing can be started immediately upon receiving an instruction to start printing later, so that the printed material can be quickly obtained.
[0031]
Then, the CPU 11 repeats the process from the process S1. If there is no request for printing (if No) in process S1, a reception ID is acquired from the RAM 13 (S10), position information corresponding to the print queue of this reception ID is acquired (S11), and further The self position is acquired from the hard disk 14 (S12), and the relative distance between the request issuer and the self is calculated from the difference between these positions (S13). Then, it is checked whether or not the calculated distance is within a preset range (S14). If it is within the range (Yes), the process proceeds to step S3 (A) to be printed according to the print queue. The data to be printed is printed, and the process ends. If it is not within the range (if No) in process S14, the process returns to process S1 to continue the process.
[0032]
Next, processing of the CPU 31 of the wireless terminal 30 will be described with reference to FIG. The CPU 31 of the wireless terminal 30 mainly performs two processes: a process for notifying its current position when requesting printing, and a process for periodically notifying its current position. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the CPU 31 checks whether or not an input of a print instruction has been received from the user (S21). Is detected (S22), and the data to be printed and its current position are output as print requests to the PHS unit 35 together with information (print destination information) indicating which printer is to be used for printing (print destination information) (S22). S23). The CPU 31 waits until a reception ID is received as a response to the print request via the PHS unit 35 (S24). When the reception ID is received, the reception ID is stored in the RAM 33 (S25), and the process S21 is performed. Return and continue processing.
[0033]
On the other hand, if there is no instruction input in the process S21 (if No), the CPU 31 measures a predetermined time with a timer (not shown) as a process for periodically reporting its current position (S26). When the time measurement is completed, the GPS 36 detects its own current position (S27), reads out the reception ID received in the process S24 from the RAM 33, and prints the current position and the reception ID as a transmission destination. Is output to the PHS unit 35 (S28), and the process returns to the process S21 to continue the process.
[0034]
Here, the wireless terminal 30 performs wireless communication by PHS, but other mobile phone services may be used.
[0035]
The respective units have been specifically described above, and the operation of the image processing system according to the present embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. The wireless terminal 30 receives an input of a print instruction from the user, acquires the current position by the GPS 36, the document data to be printed, the position information indicating its own current position, and the information of the printer 10 as the printing destination. Are output to the PHS unit 35, the PHS unit 35 wirelessly transmits them to the gateway device 2 (A), which is received by the gateway device 2 and printed on the printer 10 designated as the printing destination. The document data to be subjected to the transmission and the current position of the wireless terminal 30 are transmitted (B). Then, the printer 10 as the image processing apparatus receives these data and checks whether there is an immediate printing instruction. If there is no immediate printing instruction, the CPU 11 of the printer 10 determines the relative position between itself and the wireless terminal 30. And the distance is specified, and if the specified distance is equal to or less than the preset distance, printing is started immediately. Here, if it is not less than the preset distance, a reception ID is generated, and this reception ID is returned to the wireless terminal 30 via the gateway device 2 (C). The gateway device 2 receives this reception ID and relays it to the wireless terminal 30 for transmission (D). Then, the wireless terminal 30 receives this data, holds the reception ID in the RAM 33, waits for a certain time to elapse, acquires the current position by the GPS 36, and receives the position information indicating the current position. The ID and the print destination information are output to the PHS unit 35 (E). The gateway device 2 that has received these data via the PHS unit 35 transmits the position information and the reception ID to the printer 10 (F), and the printer 10 receives this data and receives the distance based on the position information. If it is less than a certain distance, printing is performed.
[0036]
After printing is completed, information notifying that printing including the reception ID is completed is transmitted to the wireless terminal 30 via the gateway device 2 (G, H), and the wireless terminal 30 receives this data. It is preferable to stop the process of detecting that printing has been completed and periodically reporting the current position.
[0037]
If the distance between the wireless terminal 30 and the printer 10 is close, an immediate printing instruction may be transmitted together with a print request. In this way, the CPU 11 of the printer 10 outputs an immediate printing instruction, and printing is performed immediately without calculating the relative distance (P).
[0038]
Further, the printer 10 shows the print status (whether it is on hold or printing has started) for each reception ID, the print document name as the print target data, the print conditions, etc. as shown in FIG. The table may be managed by the RAM 13 and the printing state may be transmitted to and received from the wireless terminal 30 via the gateway device 2. In this way, it is possible to easily grasp the printing status of the document on the printer 10 from the wireless terminal 30.
[0039]
Further, the wireless terminal 30 determines whether or not a print request to the printer is permitted as an attribute of the type (printer name, network address, etc.) of the printer as the print destination and the print location, and holds the print pending due to the relative distance of the present invention described above. It is preferable to store in the RAM 33 as a table as shown in FIG. Note that the wireless terminal 30 may acquire the attribute of the print location from a server that provides a directory service (LDAP) or the like on the network without holding such a table.
[0040]
Here, the wireless terminal 30 has acquired its current position by the GPS 36, but acquires the current position depending on which wireless communication base station 4 the PHS unit 35 of the wireless terminal 30 is communicating with. It doesn't matter. In this case, the printer 10 may directly acquire the current position of the wireless terminal 30 by a known method without the wireless terminal 30 notifying its current position.
[0041]
Further, when the print request source is connected to the printer 10 via the network without using wireless communication such as PHS, the position may be detected from the connection point of the computer as the print request source. . In this case, the route through which the data from the print request source arrives is detected from the router information.
[0042]
In the above description, the image processing apparatus has been described for the case where a printer, the images processing apparatus other printer, it is conceivable that it is FA X.
[0043]
Further, for example, the user who requests printing and the user who receives the processed image may be different persons. If you want to send a FAX by confidential for a specific user in a specific, FAX as images processing device, and FAX image data from the print request source, partner PHS numbers to be transmitted confidentially , The current position of the PHS is detected from the received PHS number, the relative distance from the self is checked, and if it is less than a preset distance, a FAX image is output.
[0044]
Furthermore, images processing apparatus described above, the relative distance between the self and the user, but it is decided to start printing if the close, processing ends without printing when the relative distance is greater May be. In this way, it is possible to improve security without printing out an image transmitted in error.
[0045]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention detects the position of the user to receive the printed materials, based on the position of the detected user, determines whether the user is in the vicinity of the self, it is determined that no near pending printing when the, since the printing apparatus and a printing system to start printing when it is determined that are in the vicinity, the user, without a special operation, in others a print It can be prevented from being seen and security can be improved.
[0046]
Further, according to the present invention, the formation of image in advance by performing beforehand, the relative position between the user and the printing apparatus is a printing apparatus and a printing system for printing an image formed on when a predetermined range When the user comes close to the printing apparatus, the printed matter can be acquired quickly.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram of an image processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing processing of a CPU 11 of the printer 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart representing processing of CPU 31 of wireless terminal 30 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart showing the operation of the image processing system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a table that holds a print state.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a table that holds print location attributes.
FIG. 7 is a configuration block diagram of a conventional image processing system.
[Explanation of symbols]
1,10 printer, 2 gateway device, 3,30 wireless terminal, 4 wireless communication base station, 5 network, 11,31 CPU, 12,32 ROM, 13,33 RAM, 14,34 hard disk, 15 network interface, 16 printer Engine, 35 PHS section, 36 GPS.

Claims (7)

Receiving means for receiving a print request together with data to be printed;
Detecting means for detecting the position of the user who should receive the printed matter related to the print request received by the receiving means ;
Based on the position of the user detected by the detecting means, it is determined whether or not the user is in the vicinity of the user according to a predetermined criterion. If it is determined that the user is not in the vicinity, printing is suspended. And a control means for outputting an instruction to start printing when it is determined that the user is in the vicinity ;
A printing unit that starts printing an image based on the data received by the receiving unit in response to an instruction to start printing by the control unit ;
A printing apparatus comprising: The printing apparatus according to claim 1,
The control means calculates a relative distance between the position of the user and the user's position , determines whether or not the calculated relative distance is within a preset range, and if it is determined that it is not within the range printing device and outputs an instruction to start printing when it is determined that suspends printing, is within the range. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 ,
It said control means receives the data underlying the image as data to be the print, in the case of holding the print holds to form the images in advance on the basis of the data,
The printing means receives an instruction to start the printing, the printing apparatus characterized by printing an image being the holding. A printing system including an information terminal possessed by a user and a printing device,
The information terminal includes means for transmitting a print request together with data to be printed to the printing apparatus via a communication line,
The printing apparatus includes:
Receiving means for receiving a print request together with data to be printed from the information terminal;
Detecting means for detecting the position of the information terminal that issued the request received by the receiving means;
Based on the detection result of the detection means, whether the information terminal that issued the request is in the vicinity is determined according to a predetermined criterion, and if it is determined that the request is not in the vicinity, printing is suspended. And a control means for outputting an instruction to start printing when it is determined that the user is in the vicinity ;
Printing means for starting printing of an image based on the data received by the receiving means in response to an instruction to start printing by the control means ,
A printing system characterized by that. The printing system according to claim 4,
  The information terminal periodically informs its own position,
  The printing system detects the position of the information terminal based on notification from the information terminal. The printing system according to claim 4 or 5 ,
The information terminal further comprises means for transmitting an immediate printable attribute to the printing apparatus according to an instruction,
Printing System The printing equipment is that when receiving an immediate printable attribute from the information terminal, characterized in that immediately start printing the image. The printing system according to any one of claims 4 to 6 ,
Printing system wherein the information terminal is characterized by detecting by GPS its own position.

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